A moisturizer and youth boost in one, hyaluronic acid is a miracle ingredient for all skin types, even sensitive and acne- or rosacea-prone skin.

1. Conquer crow’s feet and dark circles

With Mad Hippie Advanced Skin Care Eye Cream. Sodium hyaluronate hydrates and firms the delicate skin around the eye, while peptides reduce the appearance of wrinkles and under-eye discoloration. Ceramides help skin retain moisture and protect it along with antioxidant pomegranate and white tea.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a moisture magnet that can draw up to 1,000 times its weight in moisture into the layers of the skin. It’s a clear, gooey substance that, when added to skincare products, instantly fills in lines and wrinkles, plumps skin so it looks smoother, and improves skin’s elasticity.

“HA is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan that is produced and present throughout the body, including high concentrations in the skin and joints,” says Joel L. Cohen, MD, Director of AboutSkin Dermatology and DermSurgery in Denver. “HA is a large molecule that does most of its work on the surface of the skin, drawing moisture up from the underlying dermis into the upper surface layers.”

To overcome the large size of the HA molecule, many serums and moisturizers contain sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid in salt form) or hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid (broken-down hyaluronic acid). Both contain smaller particles than hyaluronic acid, which penetrate into skin more easily. One form of hyaluronic acid isn’t better than the other—in fact, if a product contains more than one form, skin can reap the benefits on multiple levels.

Cohen adds, “Hydrolyzed HA and traditional HA prove to be an effective combination that penetrates into the skin to hydrate the lower portion of the epidermis.”

With age, your body produces less of its own hyaluronic acid, so your skin becomes drier, thinner, and wrinkled. Since HA attracts and retains moisture, it is a key ingredient in rehydrating and anti-aging skin serums, moisturizers, eye creams, and toners. Hyaluronic acid also provides soothing and healing for irritated or cracked skin. The lightweight texture makes it ideal for all skin types, even sensitive and acne- or rosacea-prone skin.

Hyaluronic acid has long-term benefits as well. Over a sustained period of use, it helps restore the skin’s barrier function, creating another layer of defense against environmental aggressors, such as the sun, pollution, and free radicals.